Retortable bottle

Abstract

A plastic container (10) having an upper portion (16) including a reclosable and resealable open top end (18), a base portion (24) closing off an end of the container, and an intermediate portion (22) being integrally formed with and exiting from the upper portion to the base portion. The intermediate portion includes by a plurality of horizontal ribs (42) arranged substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container, at least one of the horizontal ribs being disposed longitudinally between an upper land and a lower land. The container has a volume capacity is 235 ml. or greater and a plastic weight of 20 g or less. At least one of the plurality of horizontal ribs has a horizontal rib depth (DR) of at least 4.5 mm and a horizontal rib width (WR) to horizontal rib depth ratio of between 2.2 to 2.7.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plastic container having a volume capacity, comprising:
 an upper portion having a reclosable and resealable open top end;   a base portion closing off an end of the container; and   an intermediate portion being integrally formed with and extending from the upper portion to the base portion, the intermediate portion defined by a plurality of horizontal ribs arranged substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container, at least one of the horizontal ribs being disposed longitudinally between a first land and a second land;   wherein the volume capacity is 200 ml. or greater,   wherein the container has a plastic weight of 20 g or less; and   wherein each of the plurality of ribs defines a horizontal rib width and a horizontal rib depth, wherein the horizontal rib depth is at least 4.5 mm and the horizontal rib width to horizontal rib depth ratio of between 2.2 to 2.7.   
     
     
         2 . The plastic container of  claim 1  wherein the intermediate portion defines a series of alternating horizontal lands and horizontal ribs. 
     
     
         3 . The plastic container of  claim 2  wherein the series of alternating horizontal lands and horizontal ribs consists of a first land, a first rib, a second horizontal land, and a second rib. 
     
     
         4 . The plastic container of  claim 3  wherein the first rib is symmetric, and the second rib has the same dimensions as the first rib. 
     
     
         5 . The plastic container of  claim 1  wherein the plastic weight is less than 18 g. 
     
     
         6 . The plastic container of  claim 1  wherein the at least one horizontal rib is defined by an upper wall, a lower wall, and an innermost radius connecting the upper wall to the lower wall. 
     
     
         7 . The plastic container of  claim 6 , wherein the upper wall extends at an angle of 45-55 deg to the lower wall. 
     
     
         8 . The plastic container of  claim 6 , wherein the innermost radius is in the range of 2.44 mm to 2.64 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The plastic container of  claim 6 , wherein the upper wall extends at an angle of 55-75 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The plastic container of  claim 6 , further comprising an annular groove positioned between the upper portion and the intermediate portion, the annular groove having a groove width and an inner groove radius, wherein groove width is greater than the horizontal rib width and the inner groove radius is greater than inner most radius of the horizontal rib. 
     
     
         11 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is made from polypropylene. 
     
     
         12 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the first land has a width and the first land width to horizontal rib width ratio is 0.9 to 1.1 
     
     
         13 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the first rib has a first rib upper outer radius in the range of 2.45 to 2.65 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion is tapered. 
     
     
         15 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the container has a pressure stiffness at 250° F. of at least 0.68 kPa/mL (6.9 psi/oz.) and a plastic weight of 18 g or less. 
     
     
         16 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the container has a paneling vacuum at room temperature of at least 68.9 kPA (10 psig) and a plastic weight of 18 g or less. 
     
     
         17 . A ribbed portion of a plastic container, the ribbed portion comprising:
 an alternating series of horizontal lands and horizontal ribs, including:
 a first land having a first land width; 
 a first rib having a first rib width and a first rib depth; 
 a second land and having a second land width; and 
 a second rib having a second rib width and a second rib depth; 
   wherein the first rib depth is at least 4.5 mm and the first rib width to first rib depth ratio is between 2.2 to 2.7.   
     
     
         18 . The ribbed portion of  claim 17 , wherein the first rib is defined by an upper wall, a lower wall, and an innermost radius connecting the upper wall to the lower wall, and wherein the upper wall extends at an angle of 45-55 deg to the lower wall. 
     
     
         19 . The ribbed portion of  claim 18 , wherein the innermost radius is in the range of 2.44 mm to 2.64 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The ribbed portion of  claim 18 , wherein the upper wall extends at an angle of 55-75 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the container. 
     
     
         21 . The ribbed portion of  claim 17 , wherein the container is made from polypropylene. 
     
     
         22 . The plastic container of  claim 15 , wherein the first land width to the first rib width ratio is 0.9 to 1.1.